Dinner when you Just Can’t

[Anonymous]

It depends what my family is in the mood for. When I can't deal, my husband cooks, and sometimes he makes TJ's frozen ready-made meals, or pasta and sausages. If he's not there, I make an omelet. As a French person, this is not breakfast food - it's a lunch or dinner thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

DP. Standard dinner in our house is stir fried vegetables, rice or noodles, and a simple protein. Could be steamed tofu, baked salmon, steak, pan fried turkey cutlets or chicken. That’s probably going to be like 30-40 minute prep time.

Once or twice a week we have slightly more elaborate meals, like bolognese sauce or homemade pizza or a noodle dish with various toppings.

We have young kids though so sometimes we do takeout. Or for a weekend lunch, omelette and salad, grilled cheese with roasted vegetables, quick lentil soup, etc.

[Anonymous]

These are on constant rotation in our house to fill days when I have late meetings. We almost always have these things in the house.

Quesadillas
Shin Ramen
Grilled cheese
Breakfast

[Anonymous]

Cereal with fruit.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I usually Uber eats. But if I’m trying to be responsible and not waste the money I do one of the following:
Scrambled eggs & waffles with a piece of fruit
Whatever pasta I have with store bought spaghetti sauce and frozen meatballs and frozen veggies.
Frozen salmon burger cooked in skillet with a little oil, or fish sticks in the oven. frozen french fries and bagged salad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

OP here. Fresh but simple:
marinated roast salmon, steamed spinach, rice
Homemade chicken pot pie (weekend)
Homemade chili, soup or stew with cornbread and a salad
Eggplant Parmesan, salad, garlic bread
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus (weekend)
Lots of things that would be considered “30 minute meals” or Pioneer Woman-level effort

Basically, two fresh/homemade things and maybe one phone-it-in side like Rice a Roni or frozen rolls

Go to hell.

I’d tell you the same, but I think you’re already there if the salt from all that Chef Boyardee is making you this cranky. These are all dead easy meals, and some are indicated as “weekend” cooking.

I was only half serious. I'm an excellent cook. My comment was about the fact that you asked for simple dinner ideas when you "just can't" and then you're posting this list as a simple meal. I guess I should have said "Give me a break" instead of go to hell.

I’m not OP, just someone who saw your overblown comment and recognized the insecurity that lies beneath. You can try to backtrack now but “go to hell” in response to OP literally answering a question that was asked of her is beyond. Step away from DCUM, really.

[Anonymous]

When I almost can’t but have a little energy, sausage stir-fry with vegetables over pasta. A little less energy, big pot of oatmeal. When I really just can’t, cereal night. That’s the kids’ favorite. I’ve only done it a couple of times in the summer when we’ve been on the water all day and everyone is exhausted. We don’t allow sugar cereal and use whole milk, so there’s some fat and protein in there.

[Anonymous]

Kevin’s prepared Korean BBQ Chicken or Mongolian Beef with rice. My teenagers love this brand. They will often cook it themselves and then I have zero dinner involvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tell my kids to figure it out themselves. Eat whatever they want that's healthy. By age 6 they could put together something simple. Maybe they needed me to cut something or pour boiling water out.

The thought of 6 year olds making their own dinner is sad to me. Really any kid under like 12. Geez.

My 5 year old does this occasionally. Or makes his own lunch on the weekend. Usually a tortilla with nut butter and toppings like fruit, granola, etc. I don’t find it sad…

I agree it is sad. It is great they can do it, but sad that a parent is not willing to create a family dinner. I despise cooking. Hate it but still manage to throw something togethor.

At 5 and 7 my kids made dinner one night a week for the family. They loved it! They both cook all the time now as teens. I hate cooking my kids and husband love to cook. Why not have them do it? One of my teens experiments now doing gluten free crepes and other things. Start them young. They can do it and enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Eggs with potatoes and peas.
Pasta with a Rao's Arrabbiata
I work to make chicken stock on the weekend so I can make quick soups during the week. Sometimes I just add a package of frozen tortellini.
A quick chickpea "stew", which is whatever vegs and seasoning I have on hand that I add to chickpeas.
Ham or Peanut butter/honey sandwiches.
"Pizza" - which is just pizza and mozzarella warmed on top of pita. (We have a really soft, fresh pita at a nearby store.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op your list sounds like “medium effort”, when I “just can’t “ we order delivery, tonight was one of those nights, so pizza night!

Was thinking same. Those are normal meals for us. A no effort/just can’t is ordering in or tossing a pbj or Lunchable on table for kid with random fruit; and hummus and tortilla chips for me.

I have recently been coming to terms with expectations because my mother is a great cook and can make anything work from random stuff and my grandmother was a SAHM who legitimately served 3 courses for dinner. There was always a salad entrée and dessert. EVERY NIGHT. It was sometimes really simple or other nights took the whole day. She had been cooking for 40 years and had six kids. So a grilled cheese and soup would end up being grilled cheese on sourdough toasted with tomatoes and homemade chicken dumplings or tomato soup that was from the freezer plus a salad if you didnt like soup. So what I grew up with is definitely what people considered a labor intensive meal. Both my mom and grandmother could make anything taste good, whereas, I feel like I have to put in real effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

OP here. Fresh but simple:
marinated roast salmon, steamed spinach, rice
Homemade chicken pot pie (weekend)
Homemade chili, soup or stew with cornbread and a salad
Eggplant Parmesan, salad, garlic bread
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus (weekend)
Lots of things that would be considered “30 minute meals” or Pioneer Woman-level effort

Basically, two fresh/homemade things and maybe one phone-it-in side like Rice a Roni or frozen rolls

Go to hell.

I’d tell you the same, but I think you’re already there if the salt from all that Chef Boyardee is making you this cranky. These are all dead easy meals, and some are indicated as “weekend” cooking.

I was only half serious. I'm an excellent cook. My comment was about the fact that you asked for simple dinner ideas when you "just can't" and then you're posting this list as a simple meal. I guess I should have said "Give me a break" instead of go to hell.

I’m not OP, just someone who saw your overblown comment and recognized the insecurity that lies beneath. You can try to backtrack now but “go to hell” in response to OP literally answering a question that was asked of her is beyond. Step away from DCUM, really.

I already said it was only halfhearted. I have no "insecurity that lies beneath" about what I make for dinner, or what anyone else makes for dinner. Oh brother.

[Anonymous]

Tortellini tossed with good olive oil, butter, and parmesan, and a microwaved veg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

OP here. Fresh but simple:
marinated roast salmon, steamed spinach, rice
Homemade chicken pot pie (weekend)
Homemade chili, soup or stew with cornbread and a salad
Eggplant Parmesan, salad, garlic bread
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus (weekend)
Lots of things that would be considered “30 minute meals” or Pioneer Woman-level effort

Basically, two fresh/homemade things and maybe one phone-it-in side like Rice a Roni or frozen rolls

Go to hell.

I’d tell you the same, but I think you’re already there if the salt from all that Chef Boyardee is making you this cranky. These are all dead easy meals, and some are indicated as “weekend” cooking.

I was only half serious. I'm an excellent cook. My comment was about the fact that you asked for simple dinner ideas when you "just can't" and then you're posting this list as a simple meal. I guess I should have said "Give me a break" instead of go to hell.

I’m not OP, just someone who saw your overblown comment and recognized the insecurity that lies beneath. You can try to backtrack now but “go to hell” in response to OP literally answering a question that was asked of her is beyond. Step away from DCUM, really.

I already said it was only halfhearted. I have no "insecurity that lies beneath" about what I make for dinner, or what anyone else makes for dinner. Oh brother.

You said it was “halfhearted” only after you saw that you were called out for going to an insane level over someone daring to mention that they occasionally a chicken pot pie.

[Anonymous]

DoorDash or UberEats.